The Ancient History Research Group at KU Leuven studies the Mediterranean World and the Ancient Near East primarily through written sources. Within this research group, we are seeking a new team member who wishes to pursue doctoral research as part of the MeaGRE project.
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Project
Ancient Mediterranean diets are generally described as primarily plant-based and largely centered on cereals, with a limited and often insufficient supplementation of animal products. Meat is commonly assumed to have been a luxury, mainly consumed by privileged groups and on special occasions. The project “Meat in Greco-Roman Egypt (MeaGRE): An Interdisciplinary Approach” aims to evaluate and contextualize these hypotheses through an interdisciplinary study of meat consumption in Greco-Roman Egypt, with particular attention to the origin and processing of meat, as well as its broader institutional, socio-economic, and dietary context.
The research combines textual and archaeological sources, which together provide an unparalleled level of detail for the Greco-Roman world. The project is carried out by ancient historians/papyrologists and archaeologists/Egyptologists at KU Leuven, in collaboration with other research networks and projects at the university (including Trismegistos+ and ICAG) and beyond (AGROS).
The PhD research project for which we are recruiting will focus on textual sources, primarily Greek papyrological texts, alongside a limited corpus of Greek and Latin literary and epigraphic texts. Relevant Egyptian sources will be provided by a postdoctoral researcher working on the project.
As a researcher, you will be supported by the project team, including the principal investigators Prof. Dr. Katelijn Vandorpe and Prof. Dr. Stefan Baumann, as well as a postdoctoral researcher. In addition, you will contribute to the teaching activities of the research group and you will take up at least one exam invigilation duty per examination period.
Profile
- You hold a Master's degree in Ancient History or in Languages and Literature (Greek and another language, preferably Latin), or an equivalent qualification.
- Students who will obtain one of these degrees during the 2025–2026 academic year are also eligible to apply.
- You have a strong academic record, reflected in very good to excellent study results.
- You have an excellent command of Ancient Greek and are familiar with, or can demonstrate a strong interest in, papyrological research.
- Basic knowledge of Ancient Egyptian (especially Demotic) is considered an asset but is not required.
- You possess excellent written and spoken communication skills in both Dutch and English.
- You are willing to present research results at national and international conferences and to wider audiences.
- You look forward to collaborating with the other researchers involved in the project.
Offer
- We offer a full-time PhD scholarship position for a period of four years, subject to a positive evaluation after the first year.
- The appointment is expected to start on 1 November 2026.
- You will join a stimulating academic environment with a high degree of autonomy.
- You will have the opportunity to pursue a doctoral training programme at the Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Katelijn Vandorpe, mail: [email protected].
Applications should include a CV and motivation letter and must be submitted no later than 24 August 2026. Interviews will take place during the first week of September 2026 (online if necessary).
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